WARRINGTON, Pa., July 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery
Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCO) today announced that it has
received the second $1.0M tranche
under a previously awarded Phase II Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) grant valued at up to $3.0
million to support continued development of the company's
aerosolized KL4 surfactant as a potential medical countermeasure to
mitigate acute and chronic/late-phase radiation-induced lung
injury. Discovery Labs was awarded an initial $1.0 million under this grant in October 2014 and over the next year may be
awarded up to an additional $1.0
million following completion of certain research
activities.
The primary objectives of the first phase of the research
conducted under the award included establishing appropriate
conditions for both the acute and long-term studies of aerosolized
KL4 surfactant in an animal model, and initiating studies to
confirm that aerosolized KL4 surfactant would reduce acute lung
injury associated with radiation exposure. Preliminary
results of that research indicate that early treatment with
aerosolized KL4 surfactant was able to preserve oxygenation and
reduce lung inflammation.
The research to be performed under this next phase of the grant
includes the potential confirmation that early intervention with
KL4 surfactant may prevent the effects of radiation exposure, which
may lead to pulmonary fibrosis months or years following
exposure. All of the research under the SBIR grant is being
conducted in conjunction with Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou, Ph.D.,
a leading expert in novel antioxidant approaches to acute and
chronic lung diseases with the University of
Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.
Discovery Labs believes that its proprietary KL4 surfactant may
have utility in a variety of radiation-induced lung injuries,
including damage to the lungs occurring as a result of a
radiological accident or terrorism threat agent, but also to lung
damage occurring as a result of radiation therapy as treatment for
a number of thoracic malignancies. Studies have suggested
that radiation-induced pneumonitis may occur in up to 15 percent of
patients receiving radiation therapy for lung cancer.
The U.S. Government's support and interest in Discovery Labs'
aerosolized KL4 surfactant program stems from the passing of the
Project Bioshield Act of 2004 and the Pandemic & All-Hazards
Preparedness Act of 2006 by the U.S. Congress. Both acts
encourage private sector development of medical countermeasures
against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorism
threat agents, and pandemic influenza, and provide a mechanism for
federal acquisition of such countermeasures. Research
reported in this press release was supported by the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award number
R44AI102308. The content is solely the responsibility of
Discovery Labs and does not necessarily represent the official
views of the NIH.
About Discovery Labs
Discovery Laboratories,
Inc. is a specialty biotechnology company focused on developing
aerosolized KL4 surfactant therapies for respiratory
diseases. Pulmonary surfactants are produced naturally in the
lung and are essential for normal respiratory function and
survival. If surfactant deficiency or degradation occurs, the
air sacs in the lungs can collapse, resulting in severe respiratory
diseases and disorders. Discovery Labs' technology platform
includes a novel synthetic peptide-containing (KL4) surfactant that
is structurally similar to naturally occurring pulmonary surfactant
and proprietary drug delivery technologies being developed to
enable efficient delivery of aerosolized KL4 surfactant.
Discovery Labs believes that its proprietary technology platform
makes it possible, for the first time, to develop a significant
pipeline of aerosolized surfactant products to address a variety of
respiratory diseases for which there frequently are few or no
approved therapies.
Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent
that statements in this press release are not strictly historical,
all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from the statements made. Examples of
such risks and uncertainties are described in Discovery Labs'
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and any amendments
thereto. Any forward-looking statement in this release speaks
only as of the date on which it is made. Discovery Labs
assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements.
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SOURCE Discovery Laboratories, Inc.
